September 19, 2012 -- A milk truck driver by day, Joseph Lamonica of Harwinton became the CT Lottery’s first “pirate” to claim his $30,000 “bounty” at CT Lottery headquarters in Rocky Hill. “Pirate’s Treasure,” a new $3 instant game which launched on September 10, caught this Matey’s eye, so he purchased two from a local lottery retailer.

“The first ticket I played was a $30 winner. I thought that was pretty good. The next ticket completely amazed me—it was a $30,000 winner,” Lamonica told Lottery officials. “I went inside the store and shook the clerk’s hand, and then came straight to lottery headquarters.”

For finding his treasure, Lamonica gladly accepted his prize check for $20,491 (value after taxes). Lamonica tagged a small portion of the prize money for a home improvement project, and the rest as a surprise for his wife. “I’m going to give my wife all but $2,000 of the prize by depositing it in the bank account—I’ll let her discover it when she checks the balance,” said Lamonica with a laugh.

For selling Lamonica his $30,000 top prize winning ticket, Dairy Store, located at 138 East Street in New Britain, will receive a $300 bonus check from the CT Lottery.